As bushfires in Australia devastate the biodiversity of an entire continent, the European Parliament will vote on Thursday 16 January for the EU to defend an ambitious position at the 15th UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15, Kunming, 19 October-1st November), where the post-2020 global strategic framework is to be adopted.
The joint draft resolution by the EPP, S&D, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA, ECR and GUE/NGL groups, which will be put to the vote on Thursday, expresses deep concern about the unprecedented loss of biodiversity aggravated by climate change. It largely follows the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on the Environment (see EUROPE 12382/7).
Post-2020 Global Strategic Framework. MEPs call for ambitious and binding targets, monitoring mechanisms, detailed timetables and performance indicators to make the fight to preserve the world's biodiversity a priority, as was done for the climate with the Paris Accord. They also insist that the EU should be able to take the lead in these international negotiations by setting an example, which requires it to put its own house in order.
The text calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote setting a new global target to reverse the loss of biodiversity by 2030, in order to put nature on the path to recovery for the benefit of all.
It advocates that the EU should call on all parties to protect half of the planet by 2050.
Parliament considers that the post-2020 framework should contain a clear global conservation target for 2030 of at least 30% of natural areas, as well as the objective of restoring at least 30% of degraded ecosystems. The EU, for its part, should set itself similar objectives internally, the draft resolution stresses.
EU 2030 Strategy. Parliament will urge the Commission to draw up an EU 2030 strategy that addresses the main drivers of biodiversity loss. The draft resolution calls for a binding target for the restoration of degraded habitats by 2030, whether they be forests, terrestrial, coastal, wetland or marine areas.
The Commission and the EIB will be invited to include consideration of biodiversity in their external action - particularly in funding - to ensure that no EU funds or funding models contribute to net biodiversity loss.
Parliament will call on the Commission to make reducing the EU's footprint on global biodiversity an important part of the EU 2030 strategy to avoid any inconsistency between internal actions and the EU's ambition at global level.
A GUE/NGL amendment insists on a total ban on all forms of GMOs, whatever their method of production. An amendment by the S&D group calls for recognition that the Common Agricultural Policy contributes to biodiversity loss and calls for an ambitious reform of the CAP to ensure the protection of biodiversity. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)